Keynote Speakers

Founder and CEO of the successful mining and sustainability consulting firm, SOOP Strategies Inc., and published author of Integrating Sustainability into Major Projects: Best Practices and Tools for Project Teams (John Wiley & Sons Inc., New Jersey, February 2020), Sabrina was the recipient of the Excellence in Sustainability award from the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metals and Petroleum in 2021.

With over 20 years in the industry, Sabrina is an experienced field expert with a passion for ESG (environment, social and governance) strategy, and stakeholder engagement using the modalities of gender and development. As a commercially-minded sustainability and ESG advisor, Sabrina has extensive international experience, including in Canada, USA, South America, Pacific Islands, Madagascar, and Tanzania. She has expertise in mining mega projects with a capex in the multi-billion dollar range, as well as with small and mid-size companies with projects in all phases of mine life.

Sabrina founded SOOP Strategies to create an environment where people can work in a culture of kindness while helping clients achieve their business goals and be sustainable. Her vision is to provide SOOP clients with direct and customized support that will integrate sustainability into the company’s operations and business planning, moving the mining industry as a whole towards more sustainable and successful business practices.

After 12+ years in the security industry, Avi realized that his work – while important – was not meaningful enough to him. He decided to connect his passion for business and strategy with his desire to have a positive impact on communities and environments, leading him to the sector of sustainability and ESG.

Avi is an avid researcher, with his preferred area of focus being ESG reporting in various Canadian sectors, particularly that of mining. Avi is VP Business Development for SOOP Strategies, and leads projects in ESG strategy and reporting, climate change and carbon accounting.

Avi focused his master’s level research into Diversity and Gender Equity in Canadian mining companies, and public policies being used to further facilitate the integration of ESG. His other research specialties include, among others, corporate social responsibility and mining law in Canada; ESG and COVID-19; developments in ESG and Mining; environmental initiatives in small to medium size businesses; Diversity and Gender Equity in the time of COVID-19; Trade Policies and the Environment; Cyber Security and Privacy in Canada; Social innovation enterprises; and Fundraising in non-profits.

Avi is driven by his desire to provide his children with a better future.

Joseph (Joe) Cavatoni joined the World Gold Council in September 2016 to lead business strategy for the Americas which includes oversight of investor relationships, product solutions, research, and marketing as well as the global ETFs platform. He also serves as Principal Executive Officer for the World Gold Trust Services, LLC; President of WGC USA Asset Management Company, LLC; Board Member and President of WGC (US) Holdings, Inc.; and as a member of the Executive Committee.

During his three-decade career in the financial services industry, Joe has developed and demonstrated expertise in the areas of global capital markets, exchange traded funds, asset management, trading, and business/platform development. He also spent more than 15 years working in Asia. Prior to joining the World Gold Council, Joe was a managing director at BlackRock where he was responsible for iShares Capital Markets (Americas) and was a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. His responsibilities also included product development and management as well as running a global team. Prior to BlackRock, he held senior positions at UBS, Merrill Lynch and Bank of America focused on equity derivatives trading, securities financing and lending.

Joe holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from George Washington University and a Master of Business Administration degree jointly from Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Ms. Kuzenko was appointed President & CEO of Torex Gold in June 2020, having previously held the position of COO since joining the Company in October 2018. Ms. Kuzenko is a senior mining executive with over 20 years of operational and business experience, mainly acquired at Inco/Vale. After the first four years at Inco as Chief Legal Officer, Ms. Kuzenko moved to the operational side of the business where she held roles of increasing responsibility in operations management. She has a proven record of execution and leadership in the areas of base metals refining, sustainability, energy, safety, health and environmental protection, transport functions, oxygen and acid plants, maintenance shops and community, labour and government relations. Her most recent role was of Director, Business Strategy, Ontario Operations.

Ms. Kuzenko holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Western Ontario and an Honours Bachelor of Arts from McMaster University. She is a founding Advisory Board member of the Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health (CROSH) at Laurentian University.

Sandra Swirski is a trusted executive, thought leader, and expert. Sitting at the intersection of policy and philanthropy, Sandra leverages her savvy, coalition building expertise, and deep industry knowledge to build solutions and progress for those she works with. She also co-founded Urban Swirski & Associates, a women-owned government relations firm.

Sandra has demonstrated expertise in collaborating with both major political parties to accomplish client goals. Her expertise comes from years on Capitol Hill working for seasoned Members of Congress and leading government relations teams for companies and clients in the private sector.

In her free time, Sandra serves as a Member of the Philanthropy Editorial Board of Trusts and Estates as well as an Advisory Council Member of Engage, a bipartisan women’s organization that promotes economic security for all American women. She is also a frequent speaker and author, providing insightful analysis of breaking financial issues and policy trends to watch for in Washington. Sandra often publishes with CEOWorld magazine on these insightful topics to provide her expertise to the public.

Frank Giustra is a Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist who has made significant contributions in various industries. As President and CEO of the Fiore Group, he manages a diverse portfolio of assets and investments in natural resources, entertainment, and lifestyle companies. Giustra is known for his ability to build natural resource companies by accessing capital and engaging in creative deal-making.

One of his more recent projects is West Red Lake Gold (TSX.V: WRLG), a company focused on gold exploration and development in the Red Lake Gold District of Northwestern Ontario, Canada. He also served as the Chairman of Leagold Mining from 2016 to 2019, which was successfully merged to Equinox Gold (TSX: EQX), forming a significant gold-producing company operating in the Americas. Additionally, Giustra was the Chairman of Endeavour Financial from 2001 to 2007, where he acquired, grew, and divested numerous resource companies. Notably, he was founder Endeavour Mining, Wheaton River Minerals Ltd. (which later became Goldcorp), and Wheaton Precious Metals.

Earlier in his career, Giustra held executive positions at Yorkton Securities from 1980-1996. As CEO and Chairman, he played a key role in growing Yorkton Securities into a leading natural resource investment bank. He started his career Merrill Lynch.

Giustra's entrepreneurial success extends beyond the natural resource sector. In 1997, he founded Lionsgate Entertainment, which has become one of the world's largest independent film companies.

Beyond his business endeavors, Giustra is recognized for his philanthropic activities. He established The Giustra Foundation, a Canadian charity that supports initiatives focused on women and children, education, refugee resettlement. The foundation is a founding partner in the Global Refugee Sponsorship Initiative. Outside of Canada, his Giustra International Foundation seeds and supports organizations leading the way in conflict resolution and foreign policy.

In 2007, Giustra launched Acceso, a social business builder that addresses global poverty through entrepreneurial solutions, particularly in agribusinesses in Colombia, El Salvador, and Haiti.

In 2020, Giustra was appointed Co-Chair of the International Crisis Group, an independent, non-partisan organization that provides analysis and advice to policymakers on preventing and resolving deadly conflicts.

Due to his contributions and achievements, Frank Giustra has received several honors and awards, including the Order of Canada, the Order of British Columbia, and other distinguished accolades.

Pierre Lassonde is the independent Chair of the Board. In this capacity, Mr. Lassonde provides leadership to the Board of Directors in discharging their duties but is not actively involved in the day-to-day operations of the Corporation. Mr. Lassonde formerly served as President of Newmont Mining Corporation (“Newmont”) from 2002 to 2006 and as a director and Vice-Chair of Newmont until November 30, 2007. Previously, Mr. Lassonde served as a director and President (1982 to 2002) and Co-CEO (1999 to 2002) of Franco-Nevada Mining Corporation Limited (“Old Franco-Nevada”). Mr. Lassonde also served as President and CEO of Euro-Nevada Mining Corporation Limited from 1985 to 1999, prior to its amalgamation with Old Franco-Nevada. Mr. Lassonde served as a director of Normandy Mining Limited from 2001 to 2002 and of New Gold Inc. from 2008 to 2016. Mr. Lassonde is past Chair and a past director of the World Gold Council, past Chair of the Quebec National Art Museum and a director of Enghouse Systems Limited. Mr. Lassonde received his Chartered Financial Analyst designation from the CFA Institute in 1984, a P. Eng (Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario) in 1976, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Utah in 1973, a B.Sc. (Electrical Engineering) from Ecole Polytechnique in 1971 and a B.A. from Seminaire de St. Hyacinthe/Université de Montréal in 1967. Mr. Lassonde was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2002, was inducted into the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame in 2013 and was appointed Chair of the Canadian Council for the Arts in July 2015.

For more than 25 years, Mr. Friedland has been recognized by leaders of the international financial sector and mineral resource industries as an entrepreneurial explorer, technology innovator and company builder. He has successfully developed a portfolio of respected public and private companies whose initiatives have led to several of the world’s most significant mineral discoveries and mine developments, applications of disruptive technologies and contributions to significant economic growth in established and emerging markets in the Asia Pacific Region, Southern Africa and the Americas.